Rovers hang on against Saints

Blackburn Rovers 1 Southampton 0

James Beattie's hopes of a triumphant return to Ewood Park ended in disappointment as Blackburn secured their first win in the league since New Year's Day with a 1-0 win over Southampton.

Beattie, the leading English striker in the Barclaycard Premiership, was making a return to the club where he started his career and in the expectation of being named in Sven-Goran Eriksson's England squad.

The stage was set for the 24-year-old, but instead Beattie fluffed two glorious chances and left the field open for David Thompson to steal the show as Blackburn won a fine, open match by a single goal.

That provided some relief for Graeme Souness, who had seen his side lose or draw their last eight games, though it was only due to both goalkeepers that there were not more goals.

Brad Friedel set the standard, producing two excellent saves in the space of a minute to keep out Saints. First Chris Marsden was denied after Jo Tessem had played him through, then the American parried Fabrice Fernandes' stinging 25-yard daisy-cutter after Thompson had been caught in possession.

Lucas Neill claimed he should have won a penalty under challenge from Danny Higginbotham, but referee Mike Riley was unimpressed. The Blackburn right-back then swung over a hopeful cross, Andy Cole hung well in the air and planted a good header a foot too high.

Cole was denied soon afterwards only by a stunning Claus Lundekvam block before Antti Niemi showed his class by saving in quick succession at close range from Thompson and Henning Berg.

With so many chances for both sides it was only a matter of time before someone scored, and Thompson duly obliged for Blackburn in the 26th minute. Saints messed up a chance to clear their lines, Keith Gillespie fired over a cross and Thompson swept the ball low past Niemi into the corner from 16 yards.

Saints did come within a whisker of an equaliser when Beattie produced some trickery on the edge of the box, Matt Oakley produced a quality cross and Michael Svensson produced a header which clipped the top of the crossbar.

Thompson tackled Fernandes, ran half the length of the pitch and found Tugay unmarked on the other side of the penalty area. The Turkish midfielder hit a stinging drive, but Niemi made a tremendous block.